Where parent can go for help with active child

HELP FOR FAMILIES

August 30, 2010|By Kathy Lauer-Williams, OF THE MORNING CALL

Q: I suffer from a chronic disease that makes me tired all of the time. I have a 2-year-old who would make anyone tired. Sometimes I just want to give up and call the county Office of Children and Youth to come get her, but I am afraid I would never get her back, since I am single and poor. I just need some help, but I do not want to give my daughter away.

A: There are a lot of misconceptions about the county Office of Children and Youth, the Help for Families panel says.

"The Office of Children and Youth doesn't take a child away for good, ever," says panelist Joanne Nigito-Raftas. "There always is a goal for parents to reach to get the children back. The agency works with the parents."

Only a small percentage of children are taken into the custody of Children and Youth, says panelist Val Rode.

"The agency will help a parent look at what kind of options are available," she says. "Most children stay with their family unless there's maltreatment."

If you are overwhelmed with a small child and health issues, Children and Youth may not be your only option. Reach out to family and friends first.

"For a parent who has limited resources and who is in crisis, there is a mechanism through which parents chose to place a child in foster care voluntarily for 30 days," Rode says. "After that, the parent will be evaluated. The option is there."

If a parent is trying hard, but struggling with difficult circumstance, the office might only provide resources and referrals to other programs and support groups, the panel says.

"Children and Youth is not a place to give up; it's a place to start," says panelist Denise Continenza.

If you do decide to contact Children and Youth, a caseworker will do an assessment, Rode says.

"It is a step in the right direction that you are seeing that your illness is affecting your daughter," Rode says. "It's a positive that you recognize that. Children and Youth will help you to come up with a plan. They will help you walk through your own resources, aid you in decision making and identify support you may already have."

One of the goals would be to get your daughter connected with day care, she says.

Another resource is the free 24-hour Warmline at 610-820-8451 or 610-820-8549, offered for Lehigh and Northampton county adults through Family Answers in Allentown.

"It's a talk line that's a step down from a crisis line," says panelist Linda Schneider.

The panel also recommends you seek counseling to overcome your fears and help you learn problem-solving techniques.

"If you are prone to depression, make sure there is a relative or friend you can call when you have a bad day," panelist Rochelle Freedman says.